Schiaparelli,
Elsa

French
Fashion Designer – Born in Rome - Flamboyant Trendsetter of the 1930s

Elsa
studied philosophy in her early years and worked as a scriptwriter in the US not
realizing were her path would take her, moving to Paris in the late 1920s to
open a boutique called Pour le Sport.

She
established a house of couture in Paris that was open from the late 1920s
through the mid 1950s and established her New York showroom in 1949. She was the first to use
synthetic fabrics, zipper fastenings and the first to open a boutique of
ready-to-wear clothing. A daring, flamboyant fashion innovator, she popularized
brilliant colors, especially shocking pink, which is in her trademark signature,
boxes, paper wrapping and ice blue both colors that were shocking for there time
but fully welcomed by all woman. She is noted for her perfume, wide-shouldered
suits and dresses, Woman’s hats, turbans, walking coats, evening sweaters,
halter necklines, cocktail dresses with matching jackets, Stockings and scarves.She added innovative accessories to her garments, including shoulder
pads, zippers, jewelry and unusual buttons.

Schiaparelli 'sflamboyant accessories, such as Feathered Hats, fish buttons, fox head gloves,
and newspaper-print scarves, were just the right touch for the last frivolous,
decadent years before World War 11. Schiaparelli also had a personal interest in
her clients, often trying to help them find the clothes best suited to them. she
believed that clothes should fit one's life-style.

When the Depression
put an end to frivolity, it also ended the Flapper Look. The waist returned to
its normal position and skirts fell below the knee. In addition, Schiaparelli
moved the center of interest to the shoulders, which she began to widen,
accentuating them by pleats, padding, or braid—a silhouette that remained
popular through World War II. Often called hard chic, her designs were smart
rather than pretty. Schiaparelli used the bias cut for dresses, giving them a
sensuous, clinging look that showed off the female figure. Very photogenic
because of their bold statements, her designs dominated the fashion magazines.

Schiaparelli not only
set acceptance of Innovated designs she also set the standard for Quality in
that all her pieces used only the best material available. Her products were of
the highest standard and most manufactures would try to duplicate them. As well
as her new products All of her vintage wears are still sorttoday including Jewelry, Perfume bottles, Stockings, Hats and almost
anything she made.